Unique nuclear floating power unit sets sail

Akademik Lomonosov, the world’s only nuclear floating power unit (FPU), has set sail from the Baltic shipyard. The unit is en route to Russia’s far-east via Murmansk, where nuclear fuel will be loaded into its reactors. First criticality of the reactors is scheduled for autumn 2018.

All necessary construction works to create on-shore infrastructure are underway and will be ready to use upon the FPU’s arrival. In summer 2019, once nuclear fuel has been loaded and the crew has come aboard, the unit will be towed to the sea port of Pevek. This plant will replace Pevek’s ageing Bilibino nuclear power plant and Chaunsk coal-fired power plant, saving about 50 000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year compared to the current levels. Upon its connection to the grid, this unit will be the northernmost nuclear installation in the world.